ABILITIES Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

abilities

noun

plural of ability

as in capabilities

the physical or mental power to do something as a result of the accident the once-vigorous athlete lost the ability to walk

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of abilities From backpacking to tent, car, or RV camping to unique inns to luxurious private accommodations, there’s something for everyone here no matter what ages or abilities are in your group. — Wendy Altschuler, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026 Super movers experienced slower decline in memory and other cognitive abilities. — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026 Adaptable cabinet designs are making hardworking spaces more functional and comfortable for all abilities. — Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Aug. 2026 Likewise, and in spite of their extraordinary abilities, each of these men is also wrestling with their individual limitations in the face of such institutional depravity. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2026 Over roughly six years of development, Augmental has added ways to customize Mouthpad inputs to match user preferences and abilities. — Greg Uyeno, IEEE Spectrum, 13 Aug. 2026 Burlington Central’s Tobi Oduwa entered high school as a raw prospect with tantalizing physical abilities. — Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 Nissan has just completed a stunning world-record fuel-economy drive of 1,230 miles (1,980 km) on a single tank of fuel – demonstrating the abilities of its latest 'series hybrid' engine system. — New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026 The third iteration, released in 2024, expanded its prediction abilities to interactions among proteins and other molecules, including DNA, RNA and potential drugs. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for abilities

Noun

Responding to three years of airspace violations, Spinu suggested, has allowed Romanian and allied pilots and commanders to study Russian munitions, flight patterns and capabilities -- plus their own abilities in engaging such threats.

— David Brennan, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026
Low-speed vehicles are a step above a golf cart but fall short of the capabilities of conventional passenger cars.

— Beth Livesay, AJC.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of capabilities

Noun

The compute eSSD has TLC NAND flash for higher endurance with capacities up to 32TB while the storage eSSD uses QLC NAND flash with capacities up to 256TB.

— Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Now, developers plan to double both its solar and storage capacities by November 2026.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of capacities

Noun

Others are just as deliberate about avoiding the front lines, gravitating toward technical or support specialties where the likelihood of direct combat is lower, but translating those skills to a civilian job may be smoother.

— Steven Beynon, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Dern largely dominated the five-round co-main event, demonstrating superior skills throughout the contest.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of skills

Noun

Other youth talents, like Tommy Marques, are also expected to leave, potentially paving the way for new signings like Rodri, as Deco balances sales with transfer pursuits.

— Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
After all, your time, talents and hard work hold tremendous value.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of talents

Noun

British universities have been working to hire more academics from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds so that their faculties better reflect the broader society.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
By continually altering reality, a government can disable the faculties of judgment and action on which political freedom depends.

— David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of faculties

Noun

For this class, the premise is that your purpose in life lies to the intersection of your values, your aptitudes and your interests.

— Dana Taylor, USA Today, 6 May 2026
This model reflects Japan’s long-standing corporate culture, which prioritizes new hires for their general potential—their aptitudes and aspirations, as opposed to their current skill sets or university majors—and then trains them on the job.

— GRACIA LIU-FARRER, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2025

Definition of aptitudes

Noun

Experts advocate for a radical redesign, urging boards to prioritize genuine governance competencies and continuous impact measurement, moving away from outdated models that hinder vital community services.

— Aparna Rae, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Do the activities encourage time spent interacting with others online, which can help young people develop important skills and competencies?

— Gabriel E. Hales, The Conversation, 17 July 2026

Definition of competencies

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“Abilities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abilities. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of abilities

noun

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